Heel-trimming machine



No. 6|l,37l. Patented Sept. 27. I898.

H."W. WINTER.

HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE.

' (Applicafibn 8163 Oct. 6, 1897.) 7 (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Sept.27. was.

H. W.WINTER. HEEL TBIMMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 6, 1897.]

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

HENRY WV. XVINTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-TRIMMITNG MACHINE...

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,371, dated September 27, 1898.

Application filed October 611897- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. WINTER, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Heel-Trimming Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the ac companying drawings, is a specification, like letters and numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has forits obj ectthe production of a simple and effective machine for trimming the heels of boots or shoes in a perfeet and expeditious manner, entirely obviating any danger of cutting into or otherwise marring the top of the heel by the cutter.

In my present invention the heel and randcutter rotate together, being mounted on a shaft having fixed bearings, and the randcrea'se of the boot or shoe is entered by a com bined rand guide and guard consisting of a disk mounted on the cutter-shaft adjacent the rand-cutter. The boot or shoe the heel of which is to be trimmed is supported on a jack movable toward and from the cutter and also having a vertical and rotati've movement,

the rotative movement of said jack being automatically controlled to vary the relative pitch of the heel as it is trimmed at the breast and back. The holding means for the boot or shoe are rotatably mounted in the jack and tipped slightly to bring the axis of rotation of said holding means in a lateral plane intersected by the axis of the cutter. 'This tipping of the holding means acts to draw the top of the heel away from the rand cutter and guide as the heel is turned during the trimming operation, so that the top of the heel cannot be cut into or marred.

I have provided novel means for positioning the heel in the holding means and for locking it in place, so that the heel will be accurately placed relative to a pattern which determines the contour and size of the bottom of the heel.

Ordinarily the cutter acting upon the heel leaves a thin feather or fin of material along the lower edge of the heel, which must be subsequently removed, but I have provided means for accurately and neatly finishing such edge or corner during the trimming.

Various other novel features of my inven- Scrial No. 654,227. (No model.)

tion will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a heel-trimming machine embodying my invention with the parts in operative position. Fig. 2 is a right-hand side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the jack proper and the holding means for the boot or shoe, a part of the column or standard and the cutter being also shown. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan View of the cutter and the end rest for the heel to be trimmed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of theheel with a plurality 0f the nailsprojecting therefrom for a purpose to be described. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the end rest for the heel, showing the pattern and the means for positioning the heel relative thereto. Fig. 7 is longitudinal sectional view thereof on the line 00 at, Fig. 6. Fig.8 is a transverse sectional view, enlarged, of the jack-spindle, its bearing, and the device for automatically controlling the rotative movement of the spindle; and Fig. 9 is a left-hand side elevation of the controlling deviceto be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have herein shown a tubular column or standard A, mounted on a laterally-extended base A, the upper end of the standard being bent over at A and having an opening or mouth A Figs. 1 and 3, immediately in front of which is located the trimming-cutter O of usual construction.

A laterally-extended bracket A has bearings a. a'for the cutter-shaft O provided with a pulley O, driven by a suitable belt 0 from a pulley C on the main shaft O ,n1ounted in upright bearing-stands A on the base A, back of the standard A.

A fan or blower B is mounted on the column A, the" suction opening thereinto, the

discharge-opening B of the fan being connected with a suitable pipe, (not shown,) a pulley B on the fan having rotation imparted thereto by the belt 0 which is then passed around an idler 13 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The dust and trimmings cut from the heel by the cutter C are drawn by suction into the mouth A of the standard, passing through the blower and out at its discharge 1% into a suitable pipe to be conveyed to any suitable point, so that the greater portion of the fine leather-dust is prevented from flying about.

A bracket a extended forwardly from the .lower portion of the column A, has a long upright bearing a for the jack-spindle D, longitudinally and rotatably movable in said bearing, the lower enlarged end 01 of the spin dle being loosely entered by rod (1, jointed at its lower end by a suitable treadle T. One end of a spring S is attached to said rod, its other end being secured to a fixed part of the apparatus to counterbalance the weight of the spindle and jack supported thereby.

The front of the beariu g a is longitudinally slotted at 0 (see Figs. 1 and 8,) and a stud d havinga roll 61 on its outer end, is extended through the slot, said stud being rigidly mounted on the spindle D. A lateral arm a on the bearing a has in its face a horizontal dovetailed groove to receive a correspondingly-shaped rib c on a plate 0, having an u pright cam-slot 0 in which the roll (1 enters. The plate is turned over at the outer end of the rib c to form a bearing 0 for an adjusting-screw ciwhich enters a threaded opening in the arm a the screw being rotatable in and held from longitudinal movement by said bearing, whereby rotation of the screw will move the cam-plate to the right or left, Fig. 1, for a purpose to be described.

The upper end of the spindle D has fulcrumed thereonby a bolt (1 a rocking head D, provided with depending'l'ears d for the fulcrum d, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) the said head having an upturned flange d at the back, (see Fig. 2,) provided with a longitudinal groove for a series of antifrlction-balls (See dotted lines, Fig. 2.)

The foot J of the jack proper rests on the head D and is longitudinally grooved back and front, the latter groove j being shown in Fig. 3, a gib 61 also grooved longitudinally on its inner face, being secured to the head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A set of balls 3 is held in the groove of the flange d and the rear groove of the foot J and a second set 2 (see dotted lines, Fig. 2) is held in the groove in the gib, so that the jack can slide laterally on the head between the flange and gib, the balls retaining the jack from displacement and also reducing friction.

The jack proper is substantially V-shaped, consisting of arms J J the former being nearly upright and the latter at an angle thereto, the upper end of the arm J providing a bearingj for a threaded shaft 7' having jointed at its inner end an arm f. The bearing j has rotatably mounted therein a hand-wheel j, the internally-threaded hub of which engages the threaded shaft 7' to move the latter in or out by rotation of the hand-wheel. A disk-like head j" is rotatably mounted on the innerend of the arm 7' and is inserted in the boot or shoe, bearing against the inner sole to press the heel against the end rest, the devices carried by the arm J 2 of the jack forming aclamp, which constitutes a part of the holding means for the boot or shoe.

The arm J has a bearing j for a rotatable shaft 70, Fig. 3, threaded at its outer end at k and having a laterally-extended head 7.2 at its inner end, annularly grooved on its inner face to receive antifriction-balls 6, which travel in a raceway k held in the adjacent end of the bearing j. A similar raceway 75* is held in the outer end of the bearing for balls 7, which are retained in place by a cap grooved on its inner face and screwed onto the threaded end of the shaft It, a check-nut 70 holding the cap in adjusted position. The shaft 7r; is thus mounted to rotate in a very easy manner, the inner ball-bearing taking up the end thrust of the heel of the boot or shoe when positioned.

In Fig. 3 I have shown by the broken line X the center of rotation of the cutter-shaft and by the broken line Y the center of rotation of the short shafts 7' and 7c, the two axes making an angle of about two degrees with each other. In other word s, the lateral plane passing through the axis Y is intersected by the axis X, the effect of this divergence being to draw the top of the heel away from the rand-cutter as the heel is turned by hand from breast to breast to be trimmed to thereby prevent cutting into or marring the top of the heel.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 7, I have shown a pattern-plate P, rigidly secured to a stud p, projecting from the outer face thereof and adapted to enter an axial hole in the shaft 70, the shape and size of said pattern corresponding to and determining the shape and size of the bottom of the heel to be trimmed, the edge of the said pattern P being held against the rounded edge of a fixed rest P, shown as an annulus secured to the end of the bearing a of the cutter-shaft. The edge of the pattern corresponds in cross-section to the contour of the trimming-cutter, and as the latter is herein shown as convex the edge of the pattern is also and correspondingly convex in construction for a purpose to be described. A plurality of recesses or depressions 9 10 12 are made in the inner face of the pattern, and a cover-plate p is secured, as by the studp and a screw 8, to the latter, said plate having a keyhole-slot or converging opening p therein over the recess 9,

heel will be locked to the end rest, which com-' prises the stud k, pattern P, and its faceplate, the end rest forming part of the holding means for the boot or shoe.

The rotary cutter ordinarily so acts upon the heel in trimming it as to leave a thin fin or feather along its bottom edge to be removed by a subsequent operation; but herein I haveprovided means for trimming and finishing this edge during the trimming of the heel. For this purpose I attach in a suitable manner, as by screws 15, Figs. 6 and 7, a thin substantially V-shaped plate t, of preferably soft metal, such as brass, to the face-platep. This plate has, exterior-1y, the shape and size of the bottom of the trimmed heel, and the heel rests directly upon such trimming-plate, the width of the latter being such that it engages the heel entirely outside of the series of nails therein. As the cutter O trims the body portion of the heel the trimmer-platet acts substantially as a fixed blade cooperating with the rotating cutter to cut ofi the thin fin or feather at the bottom edge of the heel. Inasmuch as the plate is thin and of soft metal no harm will be done if it should be accidentally touched by the cutter-blades. Now by referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that if a thicker heel were being trimmed the pattern P would be moved to the right and the fixed rest P would engage a smaller portion of the pattern, thereby permitting the trimmerplate t to approach the cutter-blades and maintain its position closely adjacent thereto. Unless the perimeter of the pattern corresponded in cross-section to the contour of the cutter the trimmer-plate 15 would sometimes be near and at other times removed from the cutter-blades, according to the thickness of the heel, and no uniformity in work could be attained.

The rand-trimming portion of the cutter O is shown at O ,.Fig. 4, and outside of the cutter and adjacent thereto is located the rand guide and guard R, mounted on the cuttershaft and adapted to enter the rand-crease of the boot or shoe and shield the upper from injury, while at the same time it tends to guide the heel as it is turned by the operator for the cutter to trim.

Referring to Fig. 3, an upturned ear 30 on spring S interposed between the foot of the jack and the ear, the parts just described being omitted in Fig. 2 for the sake of clearness. The spring permits movement of the jack on the head D to the right, Figs. 1 and 3, in a yielding manner to enable the operator to bring the heel of the shoe in front of the cut ter, so that the rand-guide B may enter the rand-crease. When the jack is swung forward, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) a boot or shoe is mounted,as described,in the holding means, and the operator then moves the jack back to bring the heel near one breast into the path of the "rotary cutter. At firstthe back of the heel is down, and as the trimming progresses the operator turns the boot or shoe toward him and with his foot on the treadle T gradually raises the jack as the heel is trimmed from breast to back. Now the bevel of the heel side at the back is usually greater than at the breast, and the change in the bevel is herein effected automatically by the rotation of the jack and its spindle D during such longitudinal movement. As soon as the roll 01 leaves the bottom of the cam-groove by upward movement of the spindle the latter is rotated more and more as the back of the heel is approached, the middle of the cam-groove corresponding to the back of the heel. From this point to the upper end of the cam-groove the roll acts to rotate the jack, but in the opposite direction, so that as the back of the heel passes away from the cutter the bevel of the heel will gradually decrease. It will therefore be obvious that this variation in the bevel of the heel .just described results, as a matter of fact, in a variation in the contour of the side of the heel from breast to back. It will be seen that not only is the variation in bevel or contour thus eifected automatically, but the relative movement of the jack is at all times positively controlled and the heel will be guided as it is trimmed independently of the rand-guide.

By the hereinbefore-described adjustment of the cam to the right or left the bevel for the heel may be changed as desired as a whole, the cam still effecting the relative variation in contour around the sides and back of a heel.

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described, for the same maybe modified or rearranged in various particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a heeLtrimming machine,a rotary cut ter, a vertically-movable jack, holding means for the boot or shoe, rotatable in the jack, said means including a pattern and a clamping device for the boot or shoe, a fixed rest to cooperate with the pattern, and means to automatically rotate the jack onits vertical aXis during its vertical movement, to thereby vary the relative pitch of the side of the heel from breast to back, substantially as described.

2. In a heel-trimmin g machine,a rotary cutter, a vertically-movable jack, holding means for the boot or shoe, rotatable in the jack, said means including a pattern and a clamping device for the boot or shoe, a fixed rest to cooperate with the pattern, whereby the shape and size of the bottom of the heel is determined, and independent pattern mechanism to vary the contour of the side of the heel from breast to back and also to positively guide the top of the heel as it is presented to the cutter, substantially as described.

3. In a heel-trimming machine,a verticallymovable jack-spindle, a pivotally-mounted head to rock thereon independently of the spindle, a jack laterally movable on the said head and means to regulate the lateral movement of the jack on the head, substantially as described.

4. In a heel-trimming machine,a verticallymovable jack-spindle, a rocking head thereon, a jack laterally movable on the head, and means to regulate the lateral movement of the jack on the head, and a controlling device to automatically govern the rotation of the spindle during its longitudinal movement, substantially as described.

5. In a heel-trimming machine, a rotary heel and rand cutter, a jack mounted to rotate about a substantially vertical axis, and holding means for the boot or shoe permanently located at one side of a vertical plane passing through the cutter-axis and rotatably mounted in the jack and having its axis of rotation in a lateral plane intersected by the axis of the cutter, whereby when the boot or shoe is rotated in the jack the rand-cutter is prevented from entering the upper edge of the heel, substantially as described.

6. Inaheel-trimmingmachine,arotarycutter, a jack, holding means for the boot or shoe, rotatably mounted thereon, said means including an end rest for the heel, a clamping device, and a thin soft-metal trimmerplate carried by said rest to bear against the bottom of the heel and cooperate with the cutter to finish the lower edge of the heel, substantially as described.

7. Inaheel-trimming machine,a rotary cutter, a' jack, holding means for the boot or shoe, rotatably mounted therein, said means including a clamping device, a trimmer-plate to bear against the bottom of. the heel and cooperate with the cutter to finish the lower edge of the heel, and a pattern independent of said plate but rotatable in unison therewith, and a fixed rest to cooperate with the pattern and determine the size and shape of the bottom of the heel, substantially as described.

8. Inaheel-trimmingmachine,arotarycutter, rotatably-mounted holding means for the boot or shoe, including a clamping device, a

pattern corresponding in cross-section to the contour of the cutter, a trimmer-plate concentric with the pattern and against which the bottom of the heel bears, to cooperate with the cutter in finishing the lower edge of the heel, and a fixed rest against which the pattern bears, whereby the trimmer-plate is maintained in proper position relative to the cutter for heels ofdifferent thickness, substantially as described.

9. Inaheel-trimming machine,arotarycutter, a jack, holding means rotatably mounted thereon for the boot or shoe, including a clamping device, a substantially U-shaped plate to bear against the bottom of the heel outside of the nails therein and to cooperate with the cutter in finishing the lower edge of the heel, and a pattern to determine the shape and size of the heel-bottom, said plate and pattern being concentric to form an end rest for the heel, and a fixed rest against which the pattern bears, substantially as described.

10. In a heel-trimming machine, a jack, holding means rotatably mounted therein for the boot or shoe, includinga clamping device, and an end rest against which the bottom of the heel bears, the face of the rest having a plurality of recesses therein to be entered by correspondingly-located projecting nails in the heel, to thereby position the latter in the holding means, substantially as described.

11. In a heel-trimming machine, a' jack, holding means rotatably mounted therein for the boot or shoe, including a clamping device, and an end rest against which the bottom of the heel bears, the face of the rest having a plurality of undercut recesses having converging openings, to be entered by correspondingly-located projecting nails in the heel, the heads of the nails acting to lock the heel in place when properly positioned, substantially as described.

12. In a heel-trimming machine, a jack, holding means rotatably mounted therein for the boot or shoe, said means including an end rest for the heel, having a plurality of undercut recesses in its face, said recesses having converging openings, to be entered by correspondingly-located projecting nails in the heels, the heads of the nails acting to lock the heel to the end rest when properly positioned thereon, substantially as described.

13. In a heel-trimming machine, a rotatably-mounted support for the heel of a boot or shoe, and means carried by said support to cooperate with projecting nails in the bottom of the heel to be trimmed, to positively lock the heel on the support, substantially as described.

14:. In a heel-trimming machine, a rotary cutter, a verticallymovable jack, holding means for the boot or shoe, rotatably mounted therein, means to automatically rotate the jack during its vertical movement, to thereby vary the relative pitch of the heel side from breast to back, and an adjusting device for said means, whereby the pitch can be regulated, substantially as described.

15. In a heel-trimming machine, a rotary cutter, avertically-movable jack, holding means'for the boot or shoe, rotatable in the jack, said means including a pattern and a clamping device for the boot or shoe, a fixed rest to cooperate with the pattern, whereby the shape and size of the bottom of the heel is determined, independent pattern mechanism to vary the contour of the side of the heel from breast to back, and also to positively guide the top of the heel as it is presented to name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY W. XVINTER. Witnesses:

JOHN G. EDWARDS, LAURA MANIX. 

